Let’s take the biggest objection to the AHCA, which is that it will cause millions with pre-existing conditions to lose their health insurance. Avik Roy writes in Forbes that those worries are largely overblown:

[P]rior to Obamacare, the vast majority of Americans with health insurance were already in plans that were required to offer them coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions. Employer-based plans were required to offer coverage to everyone regardless of pre-existing conditions. So were Medicare, Medicaid, and other government programs like the VA. Employer- and government-based plans, prior to Obamacare, represented 90 percent of Americans with health insurance.

Roy goes on to note that only 114,959 signed up for the ACA’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, which was a bridge for those who couldn’t get health insurance in other ways. In reality, very few people have ever been denied health insurance due to pre-existing conditions. There are also ways to protect those with pre-existing conditions without the ACA.

In addition, a net of 9 million people lost their health insurance as a result of the ACA. Many of them have moved to some sort of government-subsidized insurance either through the exchanges or Medicaid.

The status quo right now is people losing their health insurance and being thrown into exchanges that may or may not have any private insurers participating. The status quo is also health insurance premiums going up. The status quo is not acceptable.

The AHCA has flaws but it’s false to claim we can just stick with its predecessor. The status quo is failing and it needs to be fixed.

Kevin Boyd is a general correspondent for The Hayride and an associate policy analyst at the R Street Institute. His work has been featured at IJ Review, The National Interest, Real Clear Policy, and the Washington Examiner. You can follow him on Twitter @kevinboyd1984